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Netherlands v Mexico: Huntelaar wants no off-field distractions

Klaas-Jan Huntelaar urged Netherlands to put off-field issues aside and let football do the talking, starting against Mexico on Wednesday.

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Written ByPeter Hanson

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Netherlands coach Guus Hiddink has endured a difficult start
since agreeing to replace Louis van Gaal for a second spell in
charge of the national team, with his side losing two of their
opening three Euro 2016 qualifiers.

The 68-year-old caused a stir last week when he vowed to resign
as coach if they fail to with their next European Championship
qualifier with Latvia on Sunday.

Huntelaar did not expect to hear such comments from Hiddink and
the striker is eager to play his part in turning around his
country's fortunes.

"[It was] surprising," he told De Telegraaf. "But now we just
want to play football instead of keeping talking."

Hiddink has been forced to rejig his squad with Ajax's Davy
Klaassen (groin) and Milan's Nigel De Jong (hamstring) ruled
out.

QPR midfielder Leroy Fer and PSV forward Luuk de Jong come in as
replacements - the latter returning to the international scene
following a near three-year exile.

The fixture sees the two nations lock horns just five months
after Netherlands controversially knocked Mexico out of the World
Cup at the last-16 stage.

Mexico, who have not lost in four matches since that game, were
leading with just two minutes left on the clock before a Wesley
Sneijder equaliser and Huntelaar's injury-time penalty sealed the
turnaround.

Netherlands winger Arjen Robben was accused of diving to win the
crucial spot-kick, and Herrera admits the incident still rankles
with him.

"I still say the referee made a decisive mistake," he said. "You
can imagine how that feels during a World Cup.

"If you then lose and in the way that happened to us, you go
broke. At least I do. A win [on Wednesday] should be the first
important step towards the real revenge over the next four
years."

Herrera has named Carlos Vela in his squad for the matches with
Netherlands and Belarus six days later.

The Real Sociedad man has not played for his country in three
years, and has reportedly twice turned down the chance to return to
the Mexico fold.

But Herrera is confident of the forward's commitment.

"He's excited to come back, he is committed and ready to give us
everything he knows," he told ESPN.

Enrique Perez will not feature, as the Atlas defender is ruled
out through injury and has been replaced by Pachuca's Carlos
Rodriguez.